RESTRICTED TRAIN SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 July 1919, Page 7

RESTRICTED TRAIN SERVICE.

. TWO HUNDRED TECHNICAL STUDENTS AFFECTED. MOTORS TO BE USED. The question of the disabilities of children attending the technical and secondary Bchools, by leason of the curtailed ['railway Service, was discussed by the Taranaki Education Board yesterday. Mr. T. Buchanan drew attention to the position of the children of the Waltara district who came in daily to the Technical College. He said there were 26 [children affected, and at present they could get in and out from school on only one day of the week (Wednesday), there being no afternoon train out on any other school day. Even on that day they only got a very short time at school—from j about 11 o'clock till 2 o'clock. He I thought the board should take the first step with regard to getting these children to school, and then put the matter before the Department. The technical education of the children should no,t be neglected. He stated that he had made inquiries, and arrangements could be made for the conveyance of those children on four days a week for £6. He moved that the board take s,teps to arrange for the conveyance of these children to and from school. The chairman stated that at Stratford' 02 children were affected—3B from the north, who could only get two and a half hours per day at school, and 24 from the south, who could get to school only on two days a, week. At Hawera the position was even worse- There were 51 children affected, who could get in to Hawera for less than an hour a day. At New Plymouth the number of scholars affected was 86, and he thought something must be done immediately. The position affec,ted the interests of children who were preparing for special examination, and he thought some provision must be made for those children. The present position meant the loss of capitation, and therefore affected the financial position of the schools. The •important point, however, was the education of the children themselves. Mr. Trimble mentioned ,the position of the travelling instructors, who were unable to cover the ground usually travelled. In urging the necessity of something being done at once, Mr. Smith stated that he had information that the Railway Department was not sure that it would he able to maintain even the present time-table.

After some further discussion, it was resolved: That a committee consisting of the chairman (Mr. E. Masters) and Messrs Trimble, Buchanan, and Smith consider the question of making provision for the conveyance of children affected by the alteration of the railway service, and if suitable conveyance can be Becured at a reasonable rate application be made forthwith to the Department for a grant to cover the cost. The committee subsequently made tentative arrangement for a motor 'bus service between Waitara and New Plymouth for the conveyance of 28 pupils of the New Plymouth Technical College, and for a similar service between Inglewood and New Plymouth for the conveyance of 30 children and those en route.